Thill-coupling.



Patented May 27, I902.

B. n. BAPP.

THILL COUPLING.

(Appl t nfildFb 6 1902) (No Model.)

UNirnn STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

BARNET R. RAPP, OF WESTCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,087, dated May 27,1902. Application filed February 6, 1902. Serial No. 92,808. (No modcL)To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BARNET R. RAPP, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Westchester, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Thill-Couplings, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to thill-couplings of the character shown anddescribed in my former patents, Nos. 94,912, September 14, 1869;124,159, February 27, 1872, and 142,274, August 26, 1873.

The object of my present invention is to provide a suitable coupling ofthis general character that may be combined with any form of shackle nowin common use and which will not necessitate the fitting of a specialshackle to accommodate the coupling-bar.

My invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved thill-coupling. Fig.2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thecoupling-bar; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation, on a reduced scale,illustrating a detail of my invention.

In the forms of thill-couplings shown and described in my former patentsit was necessary to employ a special shackle, for the reason that thecoupling-bar had an elongated portion and provided for the passage ofone of the bolts of the shackle entirely through such elongated portion.In the present form of coupling, however, the usual shackle to be foundupon the axles of all carriages and wagons is utilized, and to this Iapply my special form of coupling-bar, which is secured to the shackleand axle by means of the usual nuts.

In the drawings, 1 represents my improved form of coupling-bar, which issecured to the shackle 2, passing over the axle 3, by means of suitablenuts 4. The coupling-bar may be strengthened by the rib 1, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2.

As in all ordinary forms of shackles, the shackle I have shown herewithhas the clips or ears 5, between which the thill-eye 6 is held andsecured by the usual bolt 7. Carried by the end of the coupling-bar 1and pivotally mounted thereto at 8 is the camyoke 9, having the ears 10.Said yoke is adapted to be brought to the position shown fthethill-eye.

in Figs-1 and 2, so that its ears 10 will lie against the ears 5 of theshackles and retain the securing-pin 7 in place. Between the base ofthis yoke-piece 9 and the rounded surface of the thill-eye I place arubber pad 11,

which is preferably inclosed or held by a metallic box 12, which latteris positioned by aid of the yoke-piece and coupling-bar so that the padwill always maintain its proper position with relation to the thill-eye.The box 12 is practically inclosed on all four sides and has a portionextending up into the space between the clips of the shackle, the sidesof such box being cut away in semicircular form for the purpose ofpermitting the contact of the rubber only with the thill-eye. WVhenusing rubber pads of this character, the constant wear and friction ofthe thill-eye upon the same causes the pad to leave its positive contactwith the thill-eye, and consequently the latter will be inposition torattle considerably. To obviate this, I arrange a springplate 13 withinthe box 12 beneath the rubber pad 11. To act on this plate to raise thepad, I tap a set-screw 14 through the bottom of this box, which screwbears against one side of the spring-plate. To provide for this screw, Ipreferably thicken a portion of the bottom of the box, as shown at 15,and to accommodate this extra metal the base of the yoke-piece is cutout, as shown at 16. This arrangement helps to position the box carryingthe rubber pad within the said yoke-piece. It will be noted that thescrew bears against one edge only'of the spring-plate, and hence theside opposite said screw becomes a fulcrum whenthe screw is adjusted,and the pad will be raised at its rear, where the greatest amountofmaterial is placed to bear upon As afurther means of insuring theadjustment of the box 12 I recess the back of' the same at 17, so thatit may lie against a portion of the coupling-bar 1 and one of itssecuring-nuts 4, and-I also recess the base of' the yoke-piece at 18between the ears of the same to receive the base of the box 12.

I To prevent too great wear upon the rubber pad and-also to insure thefirm holdingand easy movement of the thill-eye, I may provide the curvedspring-plate 19, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, arranged between the rubberpad and said thill-eye. This plate has the turned ends 20 and 21, theformer lying between the box 12 and the face of the shackle, while thevent the accidental removal of the box carrying the rubber pad, and saidyoke-piece also has a socket 23 for the reception of the end of asuitable lever, which may be employed to open the coupling. In Fig. 4 Ihave shown a View of such lever 24. When the Wagon is not in use, thelever will be in the position shown by full lines, holding up the shaft.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. In a thill-coupling, the combination of the shackle,the coupling-bar for securing said shackle to the axle, means forconnecting the same, clips carried by the shackle, a thill-eye heldthereto, means for connecting these parts, a yoke-piece having arms forholding the connecting means of the thilleye in place, means forcushioning the thilleye arranged between the latter and the yokepiece,and an arm carried by the couplingbar to which said yoke-piece ispivoted, said arm extending from the center of the coupling-bar andcurved so as to engage the yokepiece in proper position, suchconstruction permitting the use of an ordinary shackle with its usualbolts and securing means.

2. The combination in a thill-coupling of the character described, ofthe shackle having clips carrying the thill-eye, a couplingbar having aprojecting arm, a yoke piece pivoted to the projecting arm of thecouplingbar and having side arms to retain the coup- 4 ling-pin inplace, said-yoke-piece having a depression between its side arms, arubber pad for the thill-eye, and a box for carrying said pad, said boxhaving a depression in the rear fitting the coupling-bar, and aprojection in the bottom which fits the depression in the yoke piece,all of said parts coacting and serving to position the box carrying thepad with relation to the thill-eye.

3. The combination in a thill-coupling, of the shackle, a thill-eyesecured therein, a rubber pad carried by the shackle, said shacklehaving a projecting portion,'an inclosing and supporting cup for saidpad, said cup being recessed at the rear for the reception of theprojecting portion of the shackle whereby the latter serves to positionsaid cup, and a loose spring-plate interposed between said pad and thethilLeye, said plate having projections at the front and rear whichextend over and engage the cup carrying the rubber pad, the cup beingrecessed at the rear to receive the rear projection of the plate.

l. In a thill-conpling, the combination of a rubber pad to cushion thethill-eye, a cup or box in which said pad is mounted, an archedspring-plate carried in said cup beneath the pad, and means foradjusting said springplate from one side of the same.

5. The combination in a thill-coupling, of

the shackle, the thill-eye secured thereto, av

couplingbar, a yoke-piece carried by said bar, a rubber pad interposedbetween said yoke-piece and the thill-eye, a box carrying said pad, anarched spring-plate in said box supporting the pad, and anadjusting-screw tapped into said box and set so as to act upon one sideof the spring-plate to cause thelatter to raise the pad at the rear.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two'subscribing Witnesses.

BARNET R. RAPP.

Witnesses:

MARY E. RUPERT, WALTER C. MUNSHOWER.

